2023 JEEP GLADIATOR Owners Manual

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE407
Full Size Spare — If Equipped
The full size spare is for temporary emergency use
only. This tire may look like the originally equipped
tire on the front or rear axle of your vehicle, but it is
not. This spare tire may have limited tread life.
When the tread is worn to the tread wear
indicators, the temporary use full size spare tire
needs to be replaced. Since it is not the same as
your original equipment tire, replace (or repair) the
original equipment tire and reinstall on the vehicle
at the first opportunity.
Limited Use Spare — If Equipped
The limited use spare tire is for temporary
emergency use only. This tire is identified by a label
located on the limited use spare wheel. This label
contains the driving limitations for this spare. This
tire may look like the original equipped tire on the
front or rear axle of your vehicle, but it is not.
Installation of this limited use spare tire affects
vehicle handling. Since it is not the same as your
original equipment tire, replace (or repair) the
original equipment tire and reinstall on the vehicle
at the first opportunity.
WHEEL AND WHEEL TRIM CARE
All wheels and wheel trim, especially aluminum
and chrome plated wheels, should be cleaned
regularly using mild (neutral Ph) soap and water to
maintain their luster and to prevent corrosion.
Wash wheels with the same soap solution
recommended for the body of the vehicle, and
remember to always wash when the surfaces are
not hot to the touch.
Your wheels are susceptible to deterioration
caused by salt, sodium chloride, magnesium
chloride, calcium chloride, etc., and other road
chemicals used to melt ice or control dust on dirt
roads. Use a soft cloth or sponge and mild soap to
wipe away promptly. Do not use harsh chemicals or
a stiff brush. They can damage the wheel’s
protective coating that helps keep them from
corroding and tarnishing.
WARNING!
Compact and collapsible spares are for tempo -
rary emergency use only. With these spares, do
not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h). Tempo -
rary use spares have limited tread life. When the
tread is worn to the tread wear indicators, the
temporary use spare tire needs to be replaced.
Be sure to follow the warnings, which apply to
your spare. Failure to do so could result in spare
tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
WARNING!
Limited use spares are for emergency use only.
Installation of this limited use spare tire affects
vehicle handling. With this tire, do not drive
more than the speed listed on the limited use
spare wheel. Keep inflated to the cold tire
inflation pressures listed on your Tire And
Loading Information Placard located on the
driver’s side B-Pillar or the rear edge of the
driver’s side door. Replace (or repair) the original
equipment tire at the first opportunity and
reinstall it on your vehicle. Failure to do so could
result in loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION!
Avoid products or automatic car washes that use
acidic solutions or strong alkaline additives or
harsh brushes. Many aftermarket wheel
cleaners and automatic car washes may
damage the wheel's protective finish. Such
damage is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. Only car wash soap, Mopar®
Wheel Cleaner or equivalent is recommended.8

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408SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
When cleaning extremely dirty wheels, including
excessive brake dust, care must be taken in the
selection of tire and wheel cleaning chemicals and
equipment to prevent damage to the wheels.
Mopar® Wheel Treatment or Mopar® Chrome
Cleaner, or their equivalent, is recommended or
select a non-abrasive, non-acidic cleaner for
aluminum or chrome wheels.
NOTE:If you intend parking or storing your vehicle for an
extended period after cleaning the wheels with
wheel cleaner, drive your vehicle and apply the
brakes to remove the water droplets from the
brake components. This activity will remove the
red rust on the brake rotors and prevent vehicle
vibration when braking.
Dark Vapor Chrome, Black Satin Chrome, or Low
Gloss Clear Coat WheelsSNOW TRACTION DEVICES
Use of traction devices require sufficient
tire-to-body clearance. Due to limited clearance,
the following snow traction devices are
recommended. Follow these recommendations to
guard against damage:
Snow traction device must be of proper size for
the tire, as recommended by the snow traction
device manufacturer.
No other tire sizes are recommended for use
with the snow traction device.
Please follow the table below for the recom -
mended tire size, axle and snow traction device:
CAUTION!
Do not use scouring pads, steel wool, a bristle
brush, metal polishes, or oven cleaner. These
products may damage the wheel's protective
finish. Such damage is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty. Only car wash soap,
Mopar® Wheel Cleaner or equivalent is
recommended.CAUTION!

If your vehicle is equipped with these specialty
wheels, DO NOT USE wheel cleaners, abrasives,
or polishing compounds. They will permanently
damage this finish and such damage is not
covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
HAND WASH ONLY USING MILD SOAP AND WATER
WITH A SOFT CLOTH. Used on a regular basis; this
is all that is required to maintain this finish.

Trim Level AxleTire/Wheel SizeSnow Traction Device (Maximum
Projection Beyond Tire Profile Or Equivalent)
SPORT
OVERLAND Rear
245/75R17 S Class or Autosock
RUBICON
HIGH ALTITUDE MOJAVE RearLT285/70R17C
255/70R18
275/55R20 Autosock

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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE409
(Continued)
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS
The tires on the front and rear of your vehicle
operate at different loads and perform different
steering, handling, and braking functions. For
these reasons, they wear at unequal rates.
These effects can be reduced by timely rotation of
tires. The benefits of rotation are especially
worthwhile with aggressive tread designs such as
those on On/Off Road type tires. Rotation will
increase tread life, help to maintain mud, snow,
and wet traction levels, and contribute to a
smooth, quiet ride. For the proper maintenance intervals
Úpage 354.
The reasons for any rapid or unusual wear should
be corrected prior to rotation being performed.
The suggested rotation method is the “rearward
cross” shown in the following diagram.

Tire Rotation (Rearward Cross)

WARNING!
Using tires of different size and type (M+S,
Snow) between front and rear axles can cause
unpredictable handling. You could lose control
and have a collision.
CAUTION!
To avoid damage to your vehicle or tires, observe
the following precautions:
Because of restricted traction device clear -
ance between tires and other suspension
components, it is important that only traction
devices in good condition are used. Broken
devices can cause serious damage. Stop the
vehicle immediately if noise occurs that could
indicate device breakage. Remove the
damaged parts of the device before further
use.
Install device as tightly as possible and then
retighten after driving about ½ mile (0.8 km).
Autosock traction devices do not require
retightening.
Do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h).
Drive cautiously and avoid severe turns and
large bumps, especially with a loaded vehicle.
Do not drive for a prolonged period on dry
pavement.
Observe the traction device manufacturer’s
instructions on the method of installation,
operating speed, and conditions for use.
Always use the suggested operating speed of
the device manufacturer’s if it is less than
30 mph (48 km/h).
Do not use traction devices on a compact
spare tire.
CAUTION!
CAUTION!
Proper operation of four-wheel drive vehicles
depends on tires of equal size, type, and
circumference on each wheel. Any difference in
tire size can cause damage to the transfer case.
Tire rotation schedule should be followed to
balance tire wear.8

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410SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADES
The following tire grading categories
were established by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The specific grade rating assigned by the
tire's manufacturer in each category is
shown on the sidewall of the tires on
your vehicle.
All passenger vehicle tires must conform
to Federal safety requirements in
addition to these grades.
TREADWEAR
The Treadwear grade is a comparative
rating, based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half times as well on
the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices, and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
TRACTION GRADES
The Traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. These grades
represent the tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement, as measured under
controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
TEMPERATURE GRADES
The Temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the tire's
resistance to the generation of heat and
its ability to dissipate heat, when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance, which all
passenger vehicle tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance
on the laboratory test wheel, than the
minimum required by law.
WARNING!
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on straight-ahead braking traction tests, and
does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.WARNING!
The temperature grade for this tire is estab
-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, under-inflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combi -
nation, can cause heat build-up and possible tire
failure.

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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE411
STORING THE VEHICLE If you are storing your vehicle for more than 3
weeks, we recommend that you take the following
steps to minimize the drain on your vehicle's
battery:
Disconnect the negative cable from the battery.
If your vehicle is equipped with Stop/Start
system then disconnect both the main and
supplemental negative battery cables.
Any time you store your vehicle or keep it out of
service (i.e., vacation) for two weeks or more,
run the air conditioning system at idle for about
five minutes in the fresh air and high blower
setting. This will ensure adequate system lubri-
cation to minimize the possibility of compressor
damage when the system is started again.
If assistance is needed to disconnect the
battery system, see an authorized dealer.

Battery Cable Disconnect

NOTE:
You must isolate the supplemental battery
connection point, as well as the main battery
terminal from the post, as shown in the image,
to fully de-energize both batteries for storage. If
assistance is needed to disconnect the battery
system, see an authorized dealer.
Do not disconnect the Intelligent Battery Sensor
(IBS), or your Stop/Start system may not func -
tion for up to 24 hours, due to the IBS being set
into learn mode.
BODYWORK
PROTECTION FROM ATMOSPHERIC
A
GENTS
Vehicle body care requirements vary according to
geographic locations and usage. Chemicals that
make roads passable in snow and ice and those
that are sprayed on trees and road surfaces during
other seasons are highly corrosive to the metal in
your vehicle. Outside parking, which exposes your
vehicle to airborne contaminants, road surfaces on
WARNING!
Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fan
whenever the hood is raised. It can start
anytime the ignition switch is ON. You can be
injured by moving fan blades.
Remove any metal jewelry such as rings,
watch bands and bracelets that could make
an inadvertent electrical contact. You could be
seriously injured.
Vehicles with the Stop/Start system will be
equipped with two batteries. Both the main
and the supplemental batteries must be
disconnected to completely de-energize the
12 Volt electrical system.
Serious injury or death could result if you do
not disconnect both batteries. To learn how to
properly disconnect, see an authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
If the negative battery cables are not isolated
properly it can cause a potential power spike or
surge in the system, resulting in damage to
essential electrical components.
1 — Supplemental Negative Battery Cable
2 — Main Negative Battery Cable
3 — Main Negative Battery Terminal
4 — Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS)
8

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412SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
(Continued)
which the vehicle is operated, extreme hot or cold
weather, and other extreme conditions will have an
adverse effect on paint, metal trim, and underbody
protection.
The following maintenance recommendations will
enable you to obtain maximum benefit from the
corrosion resistance built into your vehicle.
What Causes Corrosion?
Corrosion is the result of deterioration or removal
of paint and protective coatings from your vehicle.
The most common causes are:
Road salt, dirt and moisture accumulation
Stone and gravel impact.
Insects, tree sap and tar.
Salt in the air near seacoast localities.
Atmospheric fallout/industrial pollutants.
BODY AND UNDERBODY MAINTENANCE
Cleaning Headlights
Your vehicle is equipped with plastic headlights
and fog lights that are lighter and less susceptible
to stone breakage than glass headlights.
Plastic is not as scratch resistant as glass and
therefore different lens cleaning procedures must
be followed.
To minimize the possibility of scratching the lenses
and reducing light output, avoid wiping with a dry cloth. To remove road dirt, wash with a mild soap
solution followed by rinsing.
Do not use abrasive cleaning components,
solvents, steel wool, or other aggressive material
to clean the lenses.
PRESERVING THE BODYWORK
Washing
Wash your vehicle regularly. Always wash your
vehicle in the shade using Mopar® Car Wash, or
a mild car wash soap, and rinse the panels
completely with water.
If insects, tar, or other similar deposits have
accumulated on your vehicle, use Mopar®
Super Kleen Bug and Tar Remover to remove.
Use a high quality cleaner wax, such as Mopar®
Cleaner Wax, to remove road film and stains,
and to protect your paint finish. Use precautions
to not scratch the paint.
Avoid using abrasive compounds and power
buffing that may diminish the gloss or thin out
the paint finish.
Special Care
If you drive on salted or dusty roads or if you
drive near the ocean, hose off the undercarriage
at least once a month.
It is important that the drain holes in the lower
edges of the doors, rocker panels, and trunk be
kept clear and open.
If you detect any stone chips or scratches in the
paint, touch them up immediately.
If your vehicle is damaged due to a collision or
similar cause that destroys the paint and protec
-
tive coating, have your vehicle repaired as soon
as possible.
If you carry special cargo such as chemicals,
fertilizers, de-icer salt, etc., be sure that such
materials are well packaged and sealed.

If a lot of driving is done on gravel roads, consider
mud or stone shields behind each wheel.

Use Mopar® Touch Up Paint on scratches as
soon as possible. An authorized dealer has
touch up paint to match the color of your
vehicle.
CAUTION!
Do not use abrasive or strong cleaning mate -
rials, such as steel wool or scouring powder,
that will scratch metal and painted surfaces.
Use of power washers exceeding 1,200 psi
(8,274 kPa) can result in damage or removal
of paint and decals.
CAUTION!

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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE413
(Continued)
Appearance Care For Fabric Top Models
To maintain the appearance of your vehicle's
interior trim and top, follow these precautions:
Do not run a fabric top through an automatic car
wash. Window scratches and wax build-up may
result.
Avoid leaving your vehicle unattended with the
top down, as exposure to sun or rain may
damage interior trim.
Do not use harsh cleaners or bleaching agents
on top material, as damage may result.
Do not allow any vinyl cleaner to run down and
dry on the paint, leaving a streak.
After cleaning your vehicle's fabric top, always
make sure it is completely dry before lowering.
Be especially careful when washing the
windows by following the directions for “Care of
Fabric Top Windows.”
Washing – Use Mopar® Car Wash or equivalent, or
mild soap suds, lukewarm water, and a brush with
soft bristles. If extra cleaning is required, use
Mopar® Convertible Cloth Top Cleaner or
equivalent, or a mild foaming cleaner on the entire
top, but support the top from underneath.
Rinsing – Be sure to remove all traces of cleaner by
rinsing the top thoroughly with clean water.
Remember to allow the top to dry before
lowering it.Care Of Fabric Top Windows
Your vehicle's fabric top has pliable plastic
windows that can be scratched unless special care
is taken by following these directions:
Never use a dry cloth to remove dust. Instead,
use a microfiber towel or soft cotton cloth moist -
ened with cold or warm, clean water, and wipe
across the window, not up and down. Mopar®
Jeep® Soft Glass Window Cleaner or equivalent
will safely clean all the plastic windows without
scratching. It removes fine scratches to improve
visibility and provides UV protection to help
prevent yellowing.
CAUTION!
Failure to follow these cautions may cause
interior water damage, stains, or mildew of the
top material:
Do not run a fabric top through an automatic
car wash. Window scratches and wax build-up
may result.
It is recommended that the top be free of
water prior to opening it. Operating the top,
opening a door or lowering a window while the
top is wet may allow water to drip into the
vehicle’s interior.
Use care when washing the vehicle, water
pressure directed at the weather strip seals
may cause water to leak into the vehicle’s
interior.
Careless handling and storage of the remov -
able roof panels may damage the seals,
causing water to leak into the vehicle’s inte -
rior.
The front panel(s) must be positioned properly
to ensure sealing. Improper installation can
cause water to leak into the vehicle’s interior.
Avoid (if at all possible) parking the vehicle
under trees; remove vegetable resins immedi -
ately as, when dried, it may only be possible to
remove them with abrasive products and/or
polishes, which is highly inadvisable as they
could alter the typical opaqueness of the
paint.
Do not use pure windshield washer fluid for
cleaning the front windshield and rear
window; dilute it to a minimum of 50% water.
Only use pure windshield washer fluid when
strictly necessary due to outside temperature
conditions.
CAUTION!
8

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414SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
(Continued)
When washing, never use hot water or anything
stronger than a mild soap. Never use solvents
such as alcohol or harsh cleaning agents.
Always rinse thoroughly with cold water, then
wipe with a soft and slightly moist, clean cloth.
When removing frost, snow, or ice, never use a
scraper or de-icing chemicals. Use warm water
only if you must clean the window quickly.
Debris (sand, mud/dirt, dust, or salt) from
off-road driving will have an impact on plastic
retainer operation. Even normal on-road driving
and vehicle washing will eventually impact
window plastic retainer operation. To maintain
ease of use of the window plastic retainers,
each window plastic retainer should be cleaned
and lubricated regularly. Clean them with a mild
soap solution and a small brush. Cleaning prod -
ucts are available through an authorized dealer.
Never paste stickers, gummed labels or any
tape to the windows. Adhesives are hard to
remove and may damage the windows.
INTERIORS
CARPET SAFETY INFORMATION
Always use carpet designed to fit your vehicle. Only
use carpet that does not interfere with the
operation of the pedal assemblies. Only operate
the vehicle when the carpet is securely attached by
the grommets so it cannot slip out of position and
interfere with the pedal assemblies or impair safe
operation of your vehicle in other ways.
WARNING!
If operating the vehicle without carpet in place
the floor may become hot, and there is a risk
of burns.
An improperly attached, damaged, folded, or
damaged grommets may cause your carpet to
interfere with the accelerator, brake, or clutch
pedals and cause a loss of vehicle control. To
prevent SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH: ALWAYS
securely attach your carpet using the grom -
mets.
ALWAYS make sure objects cannot fall or slide
into the driver’s side floor area when the
vehicle is moving. Objects can become
trapped under accelerator, brake, or clutch
pedals and could cause a loss of vehicle
control.
NEVER place any objects under the carpet
(e.g., towels, keys, etc.). These objects could
change the position of the carpet and may
cause interference with the accelerator,
brake, or clutch pedals.
ONLY install carpet designed to fit your
vehicle. NEVER install carpet that cannot be
properly attached and secured to your vehicle.
If the carpet needs to be replaced, only use
manufacturer approved carpet for the specific
make, model, and year of your vehicle.
If the vehicle carpet has been removed and
re-installed, always properly attach carpet to
the floor and check that the floor mat
fasteners are secure to the vehicle carpet.
Fully depress each pedal to check for interfer -
ence with the accelerator, brake, or clutch
pedals then re-install the floor mats.
WARNING!

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